The All-Star outfielder, let go by the Atlanta Braves shortly after he snapped his right leg in a motorcycle accident in February 1994, is showing no signs of the injury many baseball executives felt threatened his career. If anything, the stocky Gant is better than ever.

"I felt I had to prove to myself and other teams in baseball that they're dealing with one of the top players in the game," said Gant, the league leader in home runs with 19, including four in extra innings. "The numbers I'm putting up shows them the type of player they could have had."

Many teams were in the bidding for Gant last summer, including the Giants, but it came down to the Reds and Boston Red Sox. Gant said he chose the Reds for several reasons, one of which was that they pursued him harder than most other teams.

Did the Reds know something others didn't?

"All you have to do is play against the guy and you'll see what kind of player he is," said Reds manager Davey Johnson. "He's tough in the clutch, dives for balls, runs hard to first base all the time. He's a gamer. If you don't take a chance on him, you're stupid."

Unlike the Giants, the Reds also were in the enviable position of not needing Gant's services right away. The Giants needed an everyday right fielder pronto because of a season-ending injury to Willie McGee. They opted for Darryl Strawberry.

Occupying left field last season for the Reds was free-agent- to-be Kevin Mitchell. Uncertain as to whether Gant would make it back by the end of the '94 season, the Reds could afford to treat Gant as a project for '95.

Bowden structured Gant's contract as such, asking him essentially to hang around the ballpark and take batting practice for the major-league minimum of $109,000. If he wasn't healthy for spring training '95, the Reds would give him a $500,000 buyout. If he made the team, he would make $3.5 million.

Judging by his totals in homers, runs (50) and RBIs (52), all in the top five in the N.L., Gant is giving the Reds their money's worth.

"Actually, the expectations we had for him this year -- 20 homers, 80 RBIs, 15 stolen bases -- he's going to surpass all that," Bowden said. "And anything more than that is a bonus."

Bowden said he had little doubt Gant would be back to normal. He contacted several physicians about the type of break Gant suffered, and they assured him Gant would return. The question was when.

"There was definitely a risk there," Gant said. "But the doctors who did my operation told teams that were interested in me that I'd get better. The Reds knew I'd be able to play."

Since Gant played his first game in the majors, with the Braves in 1988, there have been grand expectations for the 6-footer from Texas. Despite being only the third player to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in consecutive seasons -- Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds are the others -- Gant has never commanded superstar status.

Now, without much expectation, Gant is putting together the MVP season experts predicted and the kind of season Gant expects from himself every year.

"I knew I was capable of having a good year," Gant said. "I haven't ever had a bad year. But now, because of the injury and because I was out for a year and a half, it's more gratifying."